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Title: Revolutionary Road
ISBN: 0679721916
Author:
Richard Yates
Publicate Date: 1989-05-14
Publish: 1989-05-14
List Price: $15.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $12.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.83
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Classic tale of the suburban nightmare.
Richard Yates' 1961 novel, "Revolutionary Road", is a classic that has taken far too long to get the recognition it deserves (considering Yates died in 1992).
With the Hollywood version coming out the best way to describe this haunting novel in cinematic terms would be: "American Beauty" meets "In the Bedroom" meets "The Ice Storm" and set in 1961. Even with the 1960 sentiments throughout this novel still rings true for modern times and is completely accessible with its theme of unrealized dreams and feelings of being trapped in a life out of your control.
The Wheeler's are the perfect symbol of suburbia on the surface - but to look deeper you see the turmoil just out of eyesight. The most pivotal character in the entire novel is that of John Givings, the institutionalized son of the Wheeler's realtor who hits to the core with every insightful barb that flies from his mouth.
I can only hope the movie version can come even close to the vision Yates has created in this classic tale.
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2: Revolutionary Writing
The writing is astounding, the story depressing, the ending somewhat predictable. I can see how this book would have altered the course of literature when it was first published. Nowadays, it is no longer a revelation to find suburbanites living in quiet desperation engaged in medicinal drinking to numb themselves even more.
So, it may be a "same-old" kind of story by now, but the writing is as fresh and masterful as I've ever seen. There is not a single word out of its necessary place. Not one word too many nor one word too few. Genius.
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3: Couldn't continue....
After seeing the movie preview (starring Dicaprio & Winslet), I decided to see if they have this book at local library. I had to be on a wait list for this book and was the 6th or 7th person in line. I thought this must be a really good book for the wait list to be that long.
And boy, was I so wrong. When I finally got the book, I started to read it right away. I was forcing myself to read it and when I read up to where they were talking about the rumors of Mrs. Givings' son in the loony bin, I couldn't read any further.
I don't know why so many readers love this book so much. But for me, it's way boring and uninterested. I didn't care about any of the characters or willing to read further to find out about the characters and their lives.
This book is the first book I returned to the library after reading so little of it. On to my next book.......
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4: Not sure how I feel about this book
After reading this, I felt the same as I did after watching Ordinary People. It's depressing, the characters are for the most part unlikable, at times it seems to drag, but I wanted to know how it ends. Richard Yates is a great writer and I like his style, but I don't think this is the type of book that you just LOVE.
I am always fascinated by novels with similar themes of disillusionment, etc. What I found most interesting about this book is the fact that the 1950s is the modern era in which the characters yearn for yesteryear. For me growing up, the 50s were always pointed to as the good old days, and it wasn't until the mid 60s that things started to change. I liked the descriptions of the kids zoning out in front of the TV and Frank describing how the men on TV are always portrayed as bumbling idiots while the wives have it all together. It's just funny to see that the same observations and complaints have been made for decades. People complained about the cookie-cutter houses then just as they do now about the McMansions.....
Anyway, it's not a classic, and if you're pressed for time, I don't know that I would spend what time I did have reading this particular book. Try Fitzgerald instead.
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5: Makes Mad Men look like Happy Days
As several others have noted, if you like the show Mad Men you'd probably be interested in reading Revolutionary Road. However, this novel makes Mad Men look like Happy Days (but let's hope Mad Men doesn't jump the shark!) It's pretty damned dark. Written in 1961, it starkly portrays a not-so-young suburban couple completely disaffected with their lovely house, comfortable income, adoring friends, affable neighbors, easygoing bosses, unbelievably well-behaved kids, and unprecedented Postwar American peace and prosperity. (Presumably they also have problems with mid-century modern architecture, cool jazz, early rock-and-roll, and a new Alfred Hitchcock movie every year. What a drag.) So disgusted with the godawful daily grind of living the American Dream, all they can do is scream at each other, drink themselves to sleep every night, and plan to move to France. Hello, what's their problem? Well, the Wheelers' problem has nothing to do with living in "Conformist" 1950's Connecticut or any other place and time. It has everything to do with: phenomenal self-delusion, reflexive deception, semi-functioning alcoholism, crappy childhoods, nonexistent parenting skills, and -- most of all -- a truly deeply messed-up marriage. It's A Classic for good reason: extremely well-written, compelling, and brutally honest. Well worth reading, but not much fun.
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